“We don’t have a team that we pinch-hit for,” Yost said. “All of our lefties hit well against lefties. So we don’t really have a spot that we can identify as a pinch-hitting situation late in the game.

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“I mean, all of our guys have been really productive. We think our lineup’s really deep, and it’s more about running than it is pinch-hitting.”

Instead, Yost said he had identified six spots in his lineup in which he could use a pinch runner in the eighth or ninth inning to get a runner in scoring position in a tie game or a run down.

“Gore and Dyson are, you know, top-notch base stealers,” he said. “Paulo is one of the fastest guys in the league, and it just gives us that speed element.”

The Star's Vahe Gregorian, Sam Mellinger and Andy McCullough debated whether the 2015 Astros can be compared to the 2014 Royals and also discussed Andy's upcoming story on reliever Ryan Madson.

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The 11-man pitching staff is led by Game 1, 2 and 3 starters Yordano Ventura, Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez. It also contains two No. 4 starter options in Chris Young and Kris Medlen. The bullpen consists of closer Wade Davis, set-up relievers Ryan Madson and Kelvin Herrera, plus righty Luke Hochevar and lefties Danny Duffy and Frankln Morales. Left off was Jeremy Guthrie, who struggled down the stretch and fell out of the No. 4 starter competition.

The starting infield of Eric Hosmer, Ben Zobrist, Alcides Escobar and Mike Moustakas is joined by backup Christian Colon and DH Kendrys Morales.